On Narcissa..
This will probably need heavy editing, but I would appreciate your reading it then ripping it to shreds (I might put it up in the fandom, and I don't want to embarrass myself) anyway.
I've been thinking a lot about Draco lately (most obvious statement of the YEAR), and in so doing, have considered Narcissa's role in all of this as well. After all, JKR did go out of her way to tell us that we'd get to see a lot more of Narcissa in the next book, and I've been wondering about the significance of that. Who knows, it may not have any. But by the same token, it could mean a lot, especially considering JKR's treatment of mothers in the first five books.
Honestly, anything that anyone can say about Narcissa at this point would almost be pure speculation because not only has she not done anything in the books, she's also never even spoken one word. All we know about her is that she's possibly a MILF, but her beauty is marred by a constant frown; and that she didn't want Draco to attend Durmstrang because it is so far away.
Does anyone else find this last statement somewhat suspect?
Distance, in the wizarding world, isn't much of a hindrance. Apparation exists, and if you can't apparate, you can always use a portkey. True, you can't apparate directly onto the Hogwarts grounds (thank you, Hermione), but you probably CAN do so nearby. I would assume that the same holds true for Durmstrang, unless I've completely forgotten something out of canon. And I know that it does take some doing to rig up a portkey, but Narcissa is also part of a family with considerable political clout and so this shouldn't be a problem. And then, of course, there's always floo powder.
My point is, although distance would be an understandable excuse in the muggle world, when you think about it, the same doesn't really ring true in the wizarding world. In an emergency situation, Narcissa could probably get to Durmstrang in the same amount of time that she could get to Hogwarts. So it's hard to believe that distance is what kept Draco from ending up under Karkaroff’s tutelage.
Durmstrang, it seems, is really only distinguishable from Hogwarts in three ways: location, the quality of its Dark Arts program, and its headmaster. So if Narcissa's objection to the first is bogus (which it seems to be), her real objection must have something to do with the last two. However, by all rights, they are both reasons for her to really want Draco to attend Durmstrang. Karkaroff is not only a former Death Eater and family friend, but a person who espouses all the tenants and beliefs that the Malfoys have attempted to instill in Draco about blood and lineage and the like. Durmstrang only admits purebloods, after all. Also, considering Lucius's occupation (past and present), you'd think that the Malfoys of all people would really appreciate a strong Dark Arts education. They take Draco's education very seriously (it's the only thing we've ever really heard Lucius discuss with him) and so one would think that they would only want to give him the best; to the Malfoy's, one would assume, this would mean a great Dark Arts education.
So what gives? Why isn't Draco at Durmstrang? I wonder because it brings up for discussion Narcissa's relationship with Draco. Thus far, JKR has infused the mother-child bond with a lot of power, particularly on the mother's end of things (thus far, it's been the only thing strong enough withstand Voldemort at full power), and considering Draco's reaction to Harry and Ron's taunts about Narcissa in GoF, I doubt his relationship with Narcissa will be any different.
Lily stood up to James. Petunia has stood up to Vernon. Ginny has stood up to Harry, and Hermione stands up to both him and Ron on a daily basis. Molly clearly rules the Burrow. Is it possible that Narcissa will stand up to Lucius? Is it possible that Narcissa loves Draco enough to want to keep him out of harm's way and to therefore keep him from going down his father's path? Is rebellion in the works? On a side note, the fact that Narcissa can so easily overrule Lucius on something as important to him as their son’s education with such a tissue-thin excuse does suggest that she has him completely whipped. Just...a point. ^^
Just some thoughts from a girl who can't completely give up on the idea of a redeemed!Draco, no matter what JKR says.
In conclusion, Durmstrang teaches more Dark Arts and has a former Death Eater as its head; these and its location are the only things that distinguish it from Hogwarts. And if it wasn’t location that kept Narcissa from sending Draco there, then I can only think it would be one or both of the first two, each of which, if she’s completely loyal to Lucius and his own mission, should actually have been contributing factors in her decision to send Draco to Durmstrang. So what gives?
I've been thinking a lot about Draco lately (most obvious statement of the YEAR), and in so doing, have considered Narcissa's role in all of this as well. After all, JKR did go out of her way to tell us that we'd get to see a lot more of Narcissa in the next book, and I've been wondering about the significance of that. Who knows, it may not have any. But by the same token, it could mean a lot, especially considering JKR's treatment of mothers in the first five books.
Honestly, anything that anyone can say about Narcissa at this point would almost be pure speculation because not only has she not done anything in the books, she's also never even spoken one word. All we know about her is that she's possibly a MILF, but her beauty is marred by a constant frown; and that she didn't want Draco to attend Durmstrang because it is so far away.
Does anyone else find this last statement somewhat suspect?
Distance, in the wizarding world, isn't much of a hindrance. Apparation exists, and if you can't apparate, you can always use a portkey. True, you can't apparate directly onto the Hogwarts grounds (thank you, Hermione), but you probably CAN do so nearby. I would assume that the same holds true for Durmstrang, unless I've completely forgotten something out of canon. And I know that it does take some doing to rig up a portkey, but Narcissa is also part of a family with considerable political clout and so this shouldn't be a problem. And then, of course, there's always floo powder.
My point is, although distance would be an understandable excuse in the muggle world, when you think about it, the same doesn't really ring true in the wizarding world. In an emergency situation, Narcissa could probably get to Durmstrang in the same amount of time that she could get to Hogwarts. So it's hard to believe that distance is what kept Draco from ending up under Karkaroff’s tutelage.
Durmstrang, it seems, is really only distinguishable from Hogwarts in three ways: location, the quality of its Dark Arts program, and its headmaster. So if Narcissa's objection to the first is bogus (which it seems to be), her real objection must have something to do with the last two. However, by all rights, they are both reasons for her to really want Draco to attend Durmstrang. Karkaroff is not only a former Death Eater and family friend, but a person who espouses all the tenants and beliefs that the Malfoys have attempted to instill in Draco about blood and lineage and the like. Durmstrang only admits purebloods, after all. Also, considering Lucius's occupation (past and present), you'd think that the Malfoys of all people would really appreciate a strong Dark Arts education. They take Draco's education very seriously (it's the only thing we've ever really heard Lucius discuss with him) and so one would think that they would only want to give him the best; to the Malfoy's, one would assume, this would mean a great Dark Arts education.
So what gives? Why isn't Draco at Durmstrang? I wonder because it brings up for discussion Narcissa's relationship with Draco. Thus far, JKR has infused the mother-child bond with a lot of power, particularly on the mother's end of things (thus far, it's been the only thing strong enough withstand Voldemort at full power), and considering Draco's reaction to Harry and Ron's taunts about Narcissa in GoF, I doubt his relationship with Narcissa will be any different.
Lily stood up to James. Petunia has stood up to Vernon. Ginny has stood up to Harry, and Hermione stands up to both him and Ron on a daily basis. Molly clearly rules the Burrow. Is it possible that Narcissa will stand up to Lucius? Is it possible that Narcissa loves Draco enough to want to keep him out of harm's way and to therefore keep him from going down his father's path? Is rebellion in the works? On a side note, the fact that Narcissa can so easily overrule Lucius on something as important to him as their son’s education with such a tissue-thin excuse does suggest that she has him completely whipped. Just...a point. ^^
Just some thoughts from a girl who can't completely give up on the idea of a redeemed!Draco, no matter what JKR says.
In conclusion, Durmstrang teaches more Dark Arts and has a former Death Eater as its head; these and its location are the only things that distinguish it from Hogwarts. And if it wasn’t location that kept Narcissa from sending Draco there, then I can only think it would be one or both of the first two, each of which, if she’s completely loyal to Lucius and his own mission, should actually have been contributing factors in her decision to send Draco to Durmstrang. So what gives?